Pipe-gripping device



B. J. STEEN.

PIPE GRIPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1919. RENEWED JULY 26, 1921.

PatentedSept. 27, 1921.

I ammo B. J. STEEN.

PTPE GRIPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 54 I919. RENEWED JULY 26, 192]. .1,39] ,8Q4 PatentedSept. 27, 1921.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUFORD J. STEEN, OF GOOSE CREEK, TEXAS.

PIPE-GRIFFIN G DEVICE.

Application filed March 5, 1919.- Serial No. 280,694. Renewed July 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that BUFORD J. STEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goose Creek, in the county of Harris and 'State of Texas, has invented certain new which its drill bit is attached. This string is made up of joints of pipe'connected together by means of collars, and in withdrawing the pipe, it is necessary to unscrew or break the string into sections capable of be ing readily handled. As the string of pipe is lifted, it is necessary to hold the same sustained in the bore, so that the upper, joints may be unscrewed, and when they are unscrewed and removed, the string of pipe is again elevated, and the process continues until the entire string has-been withdrawn from the bore and unjointed. It is the object of this invention to hold the string in elevated position while thus being broken up or unscrewed, and separated into sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, adapted to be used in letting a string down into the bore, whereby thelower portion of the string may be held sustained while additional sections are screwed to the upper end thereof.

'With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangements of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: a

Figure 1, is a plan View of the device, and

Fig. 2, is a side elevation thereof, shown partially in section.

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and side view, respectively, of a modified form thereof.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2'7, 1921.

Serial 170.487,?22.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numerals, 1, 1, refer to semi-cylindrical sections, which are adapted to be fitted together, forming a cylindrical block, as shown in Fig. 1, having the central opening 2, provided to permit the string of pipe to pass through. The sections 1, 1, aresecured together by means of the staples 3 and 4, which are arranged on opposite sides of the central opening 2. These staples are of an inverted U-shaped form, and their arms extend down through the respective holes 5, 5, and 6, 6, of the respective sections 1, 1, so as to hold them firmly together when in use. The sections 1, 1, are provided with the respective vertically extending slots 7, 7, wherein the radially operating dogs 8, 8, work. These dogs are elongated, their lower ends operating in the bearings 9, 9, into which the lower ends of the respective slots 7 are formed, and their upper ends are arcuated and formed with ratchet teeth 10, provided to grip and hold the pipe 11. The numerals 12, 12, refer to oppositely disposed arms whose lower ends are pivoted to the respective lugs 13, 18, formed integrally with the section 1, 1. The upper ends of these arms are turned inwardly, and work through the notches 14, 14, and their inwardly turned ends are pivoted to the upper ends of the respective dogs 8, 8. Interposed between said arms and the corresponding sections 1, and secured to the latter, are the U-shaped springs 15, 15, which normally operate to hold the dogs 8 out of engagement with the pipe.

One of the U-shaped members 4, has an extension 16, forming a bearing, to the outer end of which the arcuate arms 17, 17, are pivoted, and formed integral with said arms, is the operating lever 18.

The operation of the device as follows: The sections 1, 1, are assembled on the cas ing head 19, on opposite sides of the pipe to be pulled and are secured together by means of the staples 4, 4. The dogs 8, 8, will thus work on opposite sides of the pipe, being normally held out of engagement with the pipe by the springs 15, 15, as explained. When the pipe is elevated, the manual lever 18 is depressed,'usually by the foot of the operator, elevating the free ends of the arms 17, 17, into engagement with the arms 12, 12,

overcoming the pressure of the springs 15, 15, and forclng said arms and their upper ends of the dogs inwardly against the PlPE;

When the pipe is now released, the dog will engage and hold the same elevated. They will also secure the pipe against turning in screwing the sections together or unscrewing them. When it is desired to release the dogs 8 from the pipe, the lever 18 may be pulled upwardly, releasing the arms 17 from the arms 12, and permitting the springs 15, 15, to operate to release said dogs from the pipe.

In Figs. 8 and 4, a modified form of the device is shown wherein the upper ends of the dogs 8, 8, are connected to the upper ends of the arms 12, 12, by means of links 12' 12, which play through the corresponding notches 14L. In this form of the device, the dogs 8 normally are in position to all times engage with and hold the pipe elevated. hen the pipe is pulled upwardly, the dogs will automatically release it and when the pipe starts to move downwardly they will engage with and hold it. When it is desired to lower the pipe into the hole,

the lever 18 is depressed carrying the free ends of the arcuate arms 17, 17, up against the inner sides of the arms 12, 12, and operating through the links 12 12, to hold the dogs out of engagement with the pipe.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, including a block formed of two sections and having a central opening to receive a pipe, a vertical slot in each section, oppositely disposed dogs pivoted in said slots and having serrated faces, and a manually operated means for forcing said dogs into engagement with said pipe.

2. A device of the character described, including a block formed of two sections and having a central opening to receive a pipe, a vertical slot in each section, whose lower end is formed into a bearing, oppositely disposed dogs working in said slots and whose lower ends rest in said respective bearings,

' said dogs having serrated faces, yieldable members normally holding the dogs out of engagement with the pipe and manually operated means for forcing said dogs into engagement with said pipe.

3. A device of the character described, including a block having a central opening to receive a pipe, said block being formed of two sections, a vertical slot in each section, said slots being oppositely arranged and their lower ends being formedwith bearings, oppositely disposed, elongated dogs working in said slots and whose lower ends rest in said bearings, the upper ends of said dogs being serrated to engage with said pipe, staples securing said sections together, one of said staples being formed with an extension, arcuatearms pivoted to said extension, an operating lever formed integrally with s aid arms, means normally holding said dogs out of engagement with said pipe, and members connected to the dogs and actuated by said arms, through which said dogs may be forced into engagement with the pipe.

4. A device of the character described, including a block having a central opening to receive a pipe, opposing vertical Slots cut in the walls of said opening and formed at their lower ends into bearings, dogs whose lower ends work in said bearings and whose upper ends are serrated to engage with said pipe, arms pivoted to opposite sides of said block, whoseupper ends are inwardly turned and ivoted to the respective dogs, arcuate mem ers pivoted at one side of the block and embracing said arms, a manual lever formed integrally with said arcuate member, through which the latter is actuated into contact with said arms, whereby the dogs are forced into contact with the pipe, and yieldable members interposed between said block and arms and operating to normally hold the dogs out ofcontact with the pipe.

In testimony whereof he has signed his name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BUFORD J. STEEN Witnesses E. V. HARDWAY, JAS. W. OLIVER. 

